"Big Brother's Gonna Put It Out"

Oasis set up own label to release album

Oasis' new album 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants' will be released through the band’s own new label, Big Brother - and the band intend signing other acts for their fledgling business.

Noel Gallagher told NME that Oasis had negotiated a deal with Sony to sell their own records in the UK on Big Brother, but they would still be released through Epic/Sony throughout the rest of the world.

He also revealed he had already written five songs for the band's NEXT album - even though their forthcoming release isn't due out until February and that he wanted to start writing songs with new recruits Andy Bell and Gem Archer.

When asked to explain the label’s name, Noel explained: "It's me! Me being the big brother. When I said it, everyone started laughing, so I decided it was a great name. No, it's actually run by all five of us really. We all make decisions equally and hopefully, in the future we'll get to sign some really good records."

It means Oasis have opted for a set up much like their heroes The Beatles' Apple label. "That's the goal," Noel quipped. "it's like empire-building!" He added: "Theoretically, we wouldn't have signed for a major in the first place, and we don't see why that should change now."

He said that the band had resolved to leave Creation, the label set up by Alan McGee which he has now quit and which winds up in June, as the atmosphere in the London Primrose Hill offices were so "depressing, terrible" and that they'd always said of McGee - "if he goes, we go." He said: "We thought rather than put out a record on a label that's dying, we might as well put it out on a label that's fresh and just starting."

As for the new material he has written, he claims it is "completely different" to 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants'. And he said that as new recruits bassist Bell and guitarist Archer were songwriters, he would like to start penning tracks with them.

He also confirmed that he would like to make the pair permanent members of the band on an equal footing with himself, Liam Gallagher and drummer Alan White once they had finished touring this album - a process that he said would take about a year.

Noel explained: "We've got to pay the other two idiots money (presumably former rhythm guitarist Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs and Paul 'Guigsy' McGuigan), even though they didn't even play on the album in the end, 'cos I think it's morally correct that we pay them up until the point of them being in the band. Then Andy and Gem, if they still want to, will be able to join full-time. At the moment, they're just on wages."

Noel said Oasis planned to tour the new album for a year, take six months off and then go back into the studio to record their fifth album. "By the end of 2001, we should have another album out. I've already finished five songs for the next record, and if I do say so myself, they're fabulous. They're completely different to what's on the record. With Andy and Gem being songwriters, we might write some songs together. If they turn out to be acoustic fuckin' rock, that's what it will be."

As to whether held be allowing Liam to write a song - following his songwriting debut with 'Little James' on 'Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants', he joked: "I hope not!" But he continued: "if he writes anything else up to the standard of 'Little James', he can continue to write. But then he's got to let me sing some of his songs. It's only fair, isn't it?"

Oasis release 'Go Let It Out', the first single from the album, on February 14 - presumably through Big Brother. There was no comment from Creation as NME went to press.

Richard Ashcroft...interview comments

...They're drinking one night in a hotel bar, after some gig. That's Liam Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft, some other dudes. And this bloke comes in. American. Works for a record label. Richard's label, as it happens. The bloke nods at Richard across the room and Liam wants to know who he is. "Bloke from the American record company...".

The words are barely out of Richard's mouth when Liam's off, striding across the room, finger jabbing at the bloke. "You had 'History'!" He shouts at the bloke. "You had fookin' 'History' and you couldn't sell it! You're a tosser man! A fookin' tosser!"

Such was the incomprehension, incredulity, sheer frustration that surrounded The Verve when they were making great records, earth-shattering records, records that could change your life.

..."Yeah, the frustration..." Richard smiles. "I can remember Liam shouting at the bloke and what he said was true..."

...Looking back, on the plus side there was the arrival of Oasis, a band who were fans, passed The Verve on the fast track from nowhere, then gave them a leg-up. "Without a shadow of a doubt, the Earls Court gig, just before the album [Urban Hymns] came out, was really important. Noel opened up doors for us which was great but I think that it was totally valid that he did that. I would have done it if it was the other way round. I don't think there's any question that he should have done that. How could he not?"

...Ashcroft doesn't buy into the mindset that has turned Oasis - our biggest band, and, therefore, surely our greatest chance of a generational voice - into such slaves to the memory of The Beatles that their new album, rather than standing on the shoulder of giants, is pleased just to lurk in their shadow.

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c 2000 Andrew Turner

aturner@interalpha.co.uk

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